tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-357713372018-03-19T12:19:08.001-07:00Sandra's Loom BlogAs a professional weaver, I'm in a constant state of changing what's on the loom: planning a project, dyeing yarn for the project, warping the loom with that new yarn, weaving, finishing, and so on. Blogging is a way for me to share the process, and a way for me to keep track of what I did when.Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.comBlogger1606125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-57007365647740856062018-03-13T12:00:00.000-07:002018-03-13T12:00:07.617-07:00Beaming the Baby Blanket WarpThe only shot I got of the baby blanket warp being beamed is this one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CzW590hCEN0/WqgdPNu0ZYI/AAAAAAAALGM/nf0JeAIttbwtPoMGUnLDLz5JmXYuuAGPQCLcBGAs/s1600/beaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CzW590hCEN0/WqgdPNu0ZYI/AAAAAAAALGM/nf0JeAIttbwtPoMGUnLDLz5JmXYuuAGPQCLcBGAs/s320/beaming.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I think the next time I use the warping valet it will be for a narrower warp of a yarn that is finer and smoother than unmercerized 8/2 cotton.&nbsp; Maybe 20/2 Tencel?<br /><br />As you may be able to tell from the photo, the raddle is upside down, with the cap strapped on with velcro. That worked quite well until I got to the last bit of the warp, when I had to hand-tension the warp rather than depend on the valet and weights. At that point, the velcro straps came unstuck, the cap fell to the floor, and the warp threads bunched together and tangled. $%^$#&amp;%$!<br /><br />So next time, the raddle and cap will go right way up, I'll use stronger (and more) velcro straps, and hope for a less stressful process. The first time is always a learning experience...<br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/HN0x6HgJ_Ok" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/03/beaming-baby-blanket-warp.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-49151913439937700892018-03-06T19:16:00.002-08:002018-03-06T19:16:53.423-08:00Tips for Using the Warping ValetIn a comment on the previous post, Stephanie asked a couple of very sensible questions, "Do you plan to run the warp down from the valet through the raddle? Maybe using the raddle upside-down?"<br /><br />Yes, I plan to route the warp from valet through raddle to heddles. The raddle has a couple of strong velcro straps to hold the cap in place. Using the raddle upside-down is a terrific idea anyway - I'm a big fan of the "just in case" strategy.&nbsp; It's no fun when the cap comes loose mid-process, allowing the warp threads to meander away from their assigned positions, so a big "Thank You!" to Stephanie for her suggestion. <br /><br />Beaming the warp begins tomorrow (today was fully occupied with other responsibilities). I will report on this inaugural use of the valet. Can't wait!<br /><br />In the meantime, if anybody has tips for using the valet, I would love to hear them. This is a new tool for me, and help from experienced users is always welcome.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/DWMbK2xqKjE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com4http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/03/tips-for-using-warping-valet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-45529341172484551742018-03-05T22:39:00.001-08:002018-03-05T22:39:24.174-08:00New Loom AccessoryToday DH installed a warping trapeze (Kati Meek's term for <a href="http://katimeek.blogspot.com/p/warp-with-trapeze-and-dance-with-your.html">this warping method</a>) or a warping valet (as Laura Fry calls it, pictured in the first photo in <a href="http://laurasloom.blogspot.com/2013/12/slip-sliding.html">this post</a>) on my AVL dobby loom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk_f2U4u8EI/Wp4yz64xu6I/AAAAAAAALFs/eCDlaLYgK5stJAidfnHVDFTqyi-sbmxrwCLcBGAs/s1600/valet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="619" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wk_f2U4u8EI/Wp4yz64xu6I/AAAAAAAALFs/eCDlaLYgK5stJAidfnHVDFTqyi-sbmxrwCLcBGAs/s320/valet.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>My typical weaving warps are solid color yarns, but I have plans for a number of painted warps of various types and purposes, the first being the series of baby blankets for my neice Kelsey, which are ready to be wound onto the warp beam. My warping wheel is a great tool for solid color (or even variegated) yarns, but when the warp is wound ahead of time and painted, it needs to be beamed all at once, not in 1-inch sections. So I described what I wanted to my clever husband, he measured this and that and made a list of the parts that would be required, and went to Home Depot, the nearest big-box DIY store.<br /><br />That was around lunch time, and well before dinner time, the valet was manufactured and installed on the loom. It will be ready to go to work tomorrow. All I need now are some plastic jugs to fill with sand to use for warp weights...<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/8StsLpWG1nU" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com2http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/03/new-loom-accessory.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-41461227904940264672018-03-01T21:07:00.001-08:002018-03-01T21:07:15.142-08:00Warp LayoutAs promised, here is a photo of the warp chains as they will be beamed onto the loom:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ebFrGhWi_J8/WpjYw45jB8I/AAAAAAAALE4/niN2bk1p-iwaXQuvZw1oxRZjf35WDVsZwCLcBGAs/s1600/warp-bouts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="700" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ebFrGhWi_J8/WpjYw45jB8I/AAAAAAAALE4/niN2bk1p-iwaXQuvZw1oxRZjf35WDVsZwCLcBGAs/s320/warp-bouts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The stripes from left to right are as follows:<br />grey-green solid<br />smaller painted<br />grey-green solid<br />wider painted<br />pale grey solid<br />wider painted<br />grey-green solid<br />smaller painted<br />grey-green solid<br /><br />The weave draft is a snowflake-type pointed twill pattern:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_4pxWvcVqPs/WpjaKsY00AI/AAAAAAAALFA/sSN46fE1wow5NLjY6bfmfoDS1rAnu5OHACLcBGAs/s1600/weave-draft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="805" height="252" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_4pxWvcVqPs/WpjaKsY00AI/AAAAAAAALFA/sSN46fE1wow5NLjY6bfmfoDS1rAnu5OHACLcBGAs/s320/weave-draft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In the draft, the grey stripes are the solid color stripes, and the green and purple are the painted stripes. The two (green) stripes will have the same painted dye order as one another, and the two wider stripes will be similar to one another. Not precisely exact, because this is warp painting (not an exact science, because it's Sandra's hands), not printing (an exact science that usually requires much more precise equipment).<br /><br />More photos as the warp finds its way onto the loom.<br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/XAGH0S2OJ1A" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/03/warp-layout.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-617772047742120922018-02-27T18:07:00.003-08:002018-02-27T18:07:35.086-08:00Warp Painting SetupThe studio is difficult to keep at the temperature that is needed for painting on cotton with fiber-reactive dyes.&nbsp; This is mostly because it has windows on all sides, and its heating system is not up to the task of keeping a room that is connected to the house only on a small part of one wall at the temperature required in February.<br /><br />So I did all the prep work in the studio, and when all the dyes were mixed and all the other supplies at hand, I carried it all down to the kitchen. The center island in the kitchen is about 10.5 feet long, so I prepped it by laying down a matress pad and several towels, and covered the length of the counter with heavy-duty plastic sheeting. This was clamped to the counter and then covered with plastic wrap so I could roll up the painted warp bouts in the plastic wrap to cure. Then I covered the sheeting with a new layer of plastic wrap, ready to paint the next bout of warp yarn.<br /><br />This is what it looked like with all the protective layers in place:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRengNs1FkE/WpYNAmCy45I/AAAAAAAALEc/2N6qChpgRtAaA9DhzWYN_xrRJOAhU9C9gCLcBGAs/s1600/warp-paint-setup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="643" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rRengNs1FkE/WpYNAmCy45I/AAAAAAAALEc/2N6qChpgRtAaA9DhzWYN_xrRJOAhU9C9gCLcBGAs/s320/warp-paint-setup.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>Then the fun began. Unfortunately, I became so engrossed in the task that I completely neglected to take any in-process photos. !@*(&amp;^#$%)*&amp;%!<br /><br />Oh, well, once the dyes are set, the warp bouts are chained&nbsp; to keep them from tangling, washed until no more unfixed dye is present, then dried, I promise to take a few pictures.<br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/UqNjidahDP8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/02/warp-painting-setup.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-77057972657127020822018-02-16T13:55:00.000-08:002018-02-17T10:21:27.108-08:00And More Progress...The weather is still too cold for painting warps; the Procion MX dyes for cotton want to be in the 70-90-degree (F) range while the colors set, and the studio isn't usually kept at that temperature all the time. Also, it doesn't have an ideal setup for messy activities. Usually, I use a table outdoors, but near-freezing nights and 50-degree days make that less than ideal.<br /><br />In any case, I've begun winding the bouts of warp. It has been a while since I used the warping mill, and it took a few&nbsp; times around the winding path to remember the hand movements to get the threads in the right order at the crosses. There is a thread-by-thread cross at the "front" of the warp (at the top of the mill)), and a 2-by-2 cross at the "back" of the warp (the lower right in the photo below. I'm winding a bout for each pattern area of the design. The grey-green stripes went first, then undyed chains that will get painted later. There's still a pale grey to be dyed and wound into its own bout.<br /><br />Here's the warping mill with a bout of yarn wound onto it:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ7izMCO9Nk/Woc9IMEayrI/AAAAAAAALAk/hFLSlwjlAr4rZs_opeevLYFn_M7UIAo4gCLcBGAs/s1600/warping-mill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJ7izMCO9Nk/Woc9IMEayrI/AAAAAAAALAk/hFLSlwjlAr4rZs_opeevLYFn_M7UIAo4gCLcBGAs/s320/warping-mill.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br />...and a pile of chained bouts waiting for the next step in the process:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e5fTri210CU/Woc9TArGEMI/AAAAAAAALAo/tvMjh4VCOWYilcfrRmtjwjhuzTWXfT-1wCLcBGAs/s1600/warp-chains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="750" height="199" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e5fTri210CU/Woc9TArGEMI/AAAAAAAALAo/tvMjh4VCOWYilcfrRmtjwjhuzTWXfT-1wCLcBGAs/s320/warp-chains.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The yellow tags indicate the number of threads in each chain, according to the design.<br /><br />Kelsey, the way the mill works is this: You measure a length of strong cord the length of the planned warp (7 yards, in this case, which includes the inevitable waste) with loops at each end to go around a peg, and then wind it onto the mill such that the cord is taut. The cross-pieces with the protruding pegs can be moved if necessary. I keep a basket of pre-measured cords: 8,&nbsp; 5, 3, and 1 yards, and one half-yard. By looping them end to end, I can make almost any length warp bout (in 18-inch increments) that is feasible with this warping mill, which can accommodate up to about 20 yards (if it's fine thread). Then, as you wind the warp bout, you follow the path of the guide cord. Presto, a group of threads the same length.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/AI03XHK9Msw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com0http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/02/and-more-progress.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-45782645158534237292018-02-08T22:28:00.001-08:002018-02-08T22:28:18.744-08:00ProgressIn my last post, I didn't include any photos to show the difference between "natural" cotton yarn and oxy-whitened cotton yarn, so here goes:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6SbmtbB38Q/Wn0OSO4MctI/AAAAAAAAK_0/BJC1DMkDN_YgH9JLYFOeytYm2lP4INEYACLcBGAs/s1600/oxywhite-vs-natural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B6SbmtbB38Q/Wn0OSO4MctI/AAAAAAAAK_0/BJC1DMkDN_YgH9JLYFOeytYm2lP4INEYACLcBGAs/s320/oxywhite-vs-natural.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Keep in mind that the skeined yarn in the pot is wet, which usually means it is darker than if it were dry. In any case, it is clearly a paler color than the light beige yarn on the cone.<br /><br />This whitening made it possible to dye the lighter of the colors in the photo below. These skeins will be weft (Kelsey, the weft yarns are the cross-wise yarns, as opposed to the length-wise yarns called "warp" that are wound under tension onto the loom). The light green and the very pale silver-grey were dyed on whitened yarn; the darker colors were dyed before the oxyclean experiment. Those darker skeins had to get a more concentrated dye to combat the yellowing influence of the natural cotton.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o2VGVcOAin4/Wn0PbbtS8XI/AAAAAAAAK_8/A9bry-Ir3aMjEAyuvq-HsVAjirJAkumzQCLcBGAs/s1600/weft-colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o2VGVcOAin4/Wn0PbbtS8XI/AAAAAAAAK_8/A9bry-Ir3aMjEAyuvq-HsVAjirJAkumzQCLcBGAs/s320/weft-colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The colors that I paint onto parts of the design will mainly include light grey-green, light blue, pale grey, darker charcoal grey, and a few areas of darker blue and fuchsia and blue-violet where those two meet and blend. I probably won't get to the warp painting for a few days; other obligations are taking priority.<br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/rP0kEJpjbHk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com2http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/02/progress.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-19061304951747759462018-02-02T18:44:00.001-08:002018-02-02T18:44:41.287-08:00Oxyclean to the Rescue!Over the past week, I have been arguing with my dyepot and its contents, in an effort to get the pale neutrals that Kelsey would like for her baby blanket. The problem is that I started with natural cotton: that is, both unbleached and undyed. In its natural state, cotton is NOT white. To end up with pale grey on beige yarn is nigh unto impossible. No matter what I tried, it turned to various shades of brown, the one color Kelsey was very vocal about not wanting on the blanket.<br /><br />After googling for a bit, and reading about several methods of making cotton white(er), I decided to try Oxyclean. The problem with Clorox or other forms of bleach, is that it is imperative to neutralize the yarn after bleaching, or the bleach continues to work and will eventually damage the yarn. Plus, the amount of hydrogen peroxide I would need to neutralize that quantity of yarn was intimidating.<br /><br />The best non-chorine-based recommendation I found was Oxyclean. "Soak the cotton in it overnight, or as long as it takes to get as white as you want." I duly dissolved several scoops of Oxyclean in warm water a giant stainless steel dyepot, and added the skeins of yarn that I wanted to whiten. The next day, I was shouting with delight, "It works!"<br /><br />Then, as I rinsed and dried those skeins, I made a hilarious discovery. I always label skeins with a strip of waterproof adhesive tape fastened to one of the skein ties, with a brief description written in black permanent marker of what that skein's purpose is. When I realized that Oxyclean considers the marker to be a stain that must be removed, I couldn't stop laughing. Each skein was labeled with a nice bit of tape with all writing cleaned off. I had to wait for the skeins to dry, then weigh them to find out who they were. <br /><br />In the next dye run, though, I was able to get a lovely pale grey from my dyepot. Hooray!<br /><br />Why did I never discover this method until now? <br /><br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/-LusZ-TvIOI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com5http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/02/oxyclean-to-rescue.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-89017946214968491062018-01-28T18:54:00.001-08:002018-01-28T18:54:49.623-08:00Next ProjectMy niece, Kelsey, is expecting a baby in April, so I'm planning a run of baby blankets. Since she's not a weaver, I thought she might enjoy learning where baby blankets come from 😉<br /><br />For that reason, I'm including more information than usual, so a non-weaver mom-to-be will understand what I'm talking about. <br /><br />As soon as I heard the news, I ordered some yarn from R&amp;M Yarns, located in Tennesee: Natural (undyed) unmercerized 8/2 cotton on a huge, 3.7-pound mill cone. I have nothing but good to say for this yarn company -- price, quality, and service are very good. The yarn is ring-spun, and now that I've wound off all but 10 ounces of the yarn, skeined it, and scoured it, I can vouch for the consistently good quality. Here's what's left on the cone:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vu7AXT6T_Gc/Wm6LT38SMjI/AAAAAAAAK_M/RM3j9rgspIk3-Vri_YxVllnVX_92bcyBACLcBGAs/s1600/10oz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="551" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vu7AXT6T_Gc/Wm6LT38SMjI/AAAAAAAAK_M/RM3j9rgspIk3-Vri_YxVllnVX_92bcyBACLcBGAs/s320/10oz.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>Kelsey, you might wonder why I would bother to scour (as in, wash very thoroughly) brand new yarn. Here's why:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKEaCcPitLY/Wm1CQQtqiSI/AAAAAAAAK-k/b6Cu3vt_5WchrGvoONToY6gDXeDCq6scACLcBGAs/s1600/scouring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="700" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKEaCcPitLY/Wm1CQQtqiSI/AAAAAAAAK-k/b6Cu3vt_5WchrGvoONToY6gDXeDCq6scACLcBGAs/s320/scouring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Even though the yarn on the cone looks clean, the mill adds oils to the fiber during the spinning process, and also cotton fibers have a waxy coating that has to be removed - that coating keeps the fiber from accepting dye evenly, and removing it by including soda ash when scouring, the cloth will be softer and much better for baby. The liquid in the pot after scouring really is that yucky!<br /><br />The yarn is much more attractive once it's scoured and rinsed:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqcSGR7UHBg/Wm1Ce2NcfZI/AAAAAAAAK-o/Be0-OMFPj8IQlJYDQM_cnm36fODUOzdYACLcBGAs/s1600/rinsing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="700" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jqcSGR7UHBg/Wm1Ce2NcfZI/AAAAAAAAK-o/Be0-OMFPj8IQlJYDQM_cnm36fODUOzdYACLcBGAs/s320/rinsing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Because any yarn I put on the loom has to be long enough to account for almost 24 inches of waste at the end of the warp, I never weave a project consisting of just one piece (unless it's yardage). A baby blanket is usually in the neighborhood of 40-46 inches long, so if I were to weave just one, adding nearly half of that length and then wasting it isn't economical. So the project is planned to make 4 blankets, woven one after another - so the waste less painful. Especially with yarn that I'm going to hand-dye. Part of the design will be solid color, and part will be painted with the colors you requested.<br /><br />The "extra" blankets will go into the annual Central Coast Weavers guild sale in November. <br /><br />This is what 4 blankets-worth of yarn looks like (49 ounces), after scouring but before the dyeing begins:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeamCYmJadc/Wm1CmRJbptI/AAAAAAAAK-s/1bk03L__AHw5wMRVK2kDnJf64aMRyygFACLcBGAs/s1600/drying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xeamCYmJadc/Wm1CmRJbptI/AAAAAAAAK-s/1bk03L__AHw5wMRVK2kDnJf64aMRyygFACLcBGAs/s320/drying.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />Each of the skeins was measured for a specific part of the design, whether lengthwise threads or crosswise threads, solid or variegated. I'll email some color samples before I start the dye process, to make sure they will coordinate with your nursery decor.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/wLj0NzZ0pV8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com3http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/01/next-project.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-43250441215486549932018-01-20T18:23:00.000-08:002018-01-20T18:24:57.077-08:00Wool Boucle Finishing ReportAll four of the shawls are now wet finished and pressed and measured. Here's a table showing the shrinkage results:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dgdlvULS4cw/WmP2Q0QPPYI/AAAAAAAAK98/LwyN8KI3C4Q4zRDbijXvAbs38pM1uBsYQCEwYBhgL/s1600/shrinkage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="530" height="226" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dgdlvULS4cw/WmP2Q0QPPYI/AAAAAAAAK98/LwyN8KI3C4Q4zRDbijXvAbs38pM1uBsYQCEwYBhgL/s400/shrinkage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As I suspected, the shrinkage was least in the plainweave shawl. When the threads have less room to move, they have less chance to shrink. Otherwise, because the boucle was used as weft, and the nylon strand around which the wool strand looped wasn't very shrinky, the structure didn't have much effect on the shrinkage rate. The warp yarns are all worsted spun, and less apt to shrink than woolen spun; plus many of them are treated to resist shrinkage.<br /><br />In general, I like the versions woven in broken twill and a crepe with shorter floats best, so that's probably what I'll use in the upcoming boucle pieces. I have a teal green yarn, and a rust red yarn from the same supplier (Textura Trading, no longer in business). The yarn was originally spun by Baruffa, one of the top Italian mills. There are cones of coordinating plain 2-ply yarn in the stash to use as warp for both boucles.<br /><br />Even after finishing, the cloth is very open and sheer. The boucle causes lots of distortion in the cloth, an effect I like. As I recall, each shawl weighs just under 6 ounces.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuMJ8HiIkDg/WmP4yLYCsdI/AAAAAAAAK-I/eekRiCKsvxIups1Sd1XGyOdR1PJw85rYACLcBGAs/s1600/finished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuMJ8HiIkDg/WmP4yLYCsdI/AAAAAAAAK-I/eekRiCKsvxIups1Sd1XGyOdR1PJw85rYACLcBGAs/s320/finished.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Be sure to click the thumbnail to see the larger image. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/sLiEw6OcPqA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/01/wool-boucle-finishing-report.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-47410869739806347752018-01-14T18:41:00.001-08:002018-01-14T18:41:59.123-08:00Sneak PeekHere's a quick look at a jacquard project that's my focus this week.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV0i2aU3jc8/WluxKBC4rbI/AAAAAAAAK9Y/J9Ojb-sIuUM6m24wh9rvnYZglGDrkHEsACLcBGAs/s1600/preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="800" height="223" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DV0i2aU3jc8/WluxKBC4rbI/AAAAAAAAK9Y/J9Ojb-sIuUM6m24wh9rvnYZglGDrkHEsACLcBGAs/s320/preview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The warp (as always) is black, and the wefts are pale lavendar, pale blue, mid blue, and black. I wanted the lines separating the color areas to stand out more, so in those areas it's mostly black weft on black warp showing. The black weft covers up most of the light-colored pixels that show through in those narrow dividing lines.<br /><br />More later...<br /><br />In other news, two of the blue boucle shawls have been wet-finished and pressed. They attended the Central Coast Weavers Guild meeting as <i>show &amp; tell</i>, and were duly admired. The last two on that warp will have to wait a few days before I can finish them.<br /><br />Weave on!<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/r4OSGo6yEHw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/01/sneak-peek.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-35420596141465534812018-01-07T18:59:00.001-08:002018-01-07T18:59:16.363-08:00Wow! Things Happen Fast Around Here!The Resident Engineer is fast! The new disk drive came a day early (on a Sunday, thank you Amazon!), and the "dead" system disk cooperated and allowed DH to copy it to the new disk, a full backup has been made, and I'm back in touch with Windows and all my files and applications. Hooray!<br /><br />The warp and the dobby loom also cooperated, and the last wool boucle piece has been woven and the warp cut off the loom. Here it is, four featherweight shawls heaped on the ironing board:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJe-JO-INVI/WlLd2P6oAPI/AAAAAAAAK8w/JMv_QP_pv_QY3bxdqlVPiFlZBpmAvNf2wCLcBGAs/s1600/cut-off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="700" height="230" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xJe-JO-INVI/WlLd2P6oAPI/AAAAAAAAK8w/JMv_QP_pv_QY3bxdqlVPiFlZBpmAvNf2wCLcBGAs/s320/cut-off.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Tomorrow, I'll do any mending required, and begin gently wet finishing and pressing the shawls. I'll be interested to see whether the difference in weave structures makes a significant difference in post-wet-finishing size.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/n6wDKb18oG8" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/01/wow-things-happen-fast-around-here.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-43433624464080671202018-01-07T11:37:00.000-08:002018-01-07T11:39:01.106-08:00Last of the Wool Boucle ShawlsThe last piece on the warp is also a crepe. This one has floats no longer than 2 in the weft, and no longer than 3 in the warp. It's based on Oelsner #840. The original is a 10-shaft draft, but I pasted 4 copies of it into a 20x20 tieup space, then rotated, flipped, and wrapped the whole thing until it worked well with the selvedge threads.<br /><br />I would post a picture of the draft, but the system drive on my desktop computer has died, and until DH fixes it, I can't get to the image. The repair job can't begin until a replacement drive arrives tomorrow, and will take a couple of days. The dead drive was brand new, and hadn't a chance for the backup server to create a backup before the disk died, so DH has to build it from scratch, all over again. Including applications.<br /><br />Modern technology: ain't it wonderful....<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/1Cg4GC_xgKM" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com0http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2018/01/last-of-wool-boucle-shawls.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-68047801349251485812017-12-18T20:46:00.000-08:002017-12-19T11:25:02.275-08:00This Crepe's For You, AliceOelsner #943, with loom-controlled floating selvedge added on shafts 21 and 22. I intended to use Oelsner #840, but I coulldn't get it to play nice with the selvedge.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xEhCWy6utOk/WjiYpwNNGzI/AAAAAAAAK7w/wc78mfLjb6gadgC1rw21IQrVEaVdHoYEwCLcBGAs/s1600/crepe943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="747" height="242" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xEhCWy6utOk/WjiYpwNNGzI/AAAAAAAAK7w/wc78mfLjb6gadgC1rw21IQrVEaVdHoYEwCLcBGAs/s320/crepe943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And on the loom:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jvg2LBAF7Po/WjiYwuTNYJI/AAAAAAAAK70/72lfOhAAGJEAsffPD3lrdupQlzmwyzMrQCLcBGAs/s1600/crepe943onloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jvg2LBAF7Po/WjiYwuTNYJI/AAAAAAAAK70/72lfOhAAGJEAsffPD3lrdupQlzmwyzMrQCLcBGAs/s320/crepe943onloom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And in closeup:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYNZptfsGuU/WjiY6TSvTGI/AAAAAAAAK74/bt-zRA5PctkQclihDJGggpsyy2QP19_2gCLcBGAs/s1600/crepe943close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="800" height="168" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYNZptfsGuU/WjiY6TSvTGI/AAAAAAAAK74/bt-zRA5PctkQclihDJGggpsyy2QP19_2gCLcBGAs/s320/crepe943close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This weave pattern has a little more breathing room than the broken twill, so looks a bit more open and will probably have more shrinkage than the broken twill during wet finishing.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/KSXx2D7mK54" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/12/this-crepes-fopr-you-alice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-62916081092147960292017-12-17T22:57:00.002-08:002017-12-18T10:16:21.983-08:00A Last-Minute GiftThis mobile phone pouch is for a friend who may join us for Christmas Eve:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaHYv0vpj7Y/WjdmFzut0tI/AAAAAAAAK7g/ZLamOcwBP_YRvtU3kZ1IgidGxhRQhtvjwCLcBGAs/s1600/lastmingift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="436" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uaHYv0vpj7Y/WjdmFzut0tI/AAAAAAAAK7g/ZLamOcwBP_YRvtU3kZ1IgidGxhRQhtvjwCLcBGAs/s320/lastmingift.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><br />There will be another one in this cloth (but cut from another area, so with a different blend of violet and pink), but it isn't ready for prime-time yet. The lining and strap still need to be sewn into the pouch. That probably won't happen until after the holidays. I'll post it on the <a href="https://sandrarudesales.blogspot.com/">sales blog </a>when it is completed.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/iY_BF3TNuyk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com2http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/12/a-last-minute-gift.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-64159894633963085012017-12-14T22:30:00.001-08:002017-12-14T22:30:44.196-08:00Twill It IsBy dinnertime, I finished weaving shawl #2, using the broken twill from the previous post.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0laj3Nv-TY/WjNqYfkXZRI/AAAAAAAAK7A/Vew_cKAAgz4eVbuk1HOMQABPhVRgUlqSACLcBGAs/s1600/twill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q0laj3Nv-TY/WjNqYfkXZRI/AAAAAAAAK7A/Vew_cKAAgz4eVbuk1HOMQABPhVRgUlqSACLcBGAs/s320/twill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And in extreme closeup:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5tmWa0GCdo/WjNqmxggJXI/AAAAAAAAK7E/OME1SGRQxjgjkdimOtIveUUiUC7tOJHRgCLcBGAs/s1600/twill-close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5tmWa0GCdo/WjNqmxggJXI/AAAAAAAAK7E/OME1SGRQxjgjkdimOtIveUUiUC7tOJHRgCLcBGAs/s320/twill-close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The cloth is slightly more open than the plain weave version, because although each individual warp end is doing the two-up, two-down dance, the weft alternates between over-two, under-two on even picks, and over-one, under-one on odd picks. If the tieup were rotated 90 degrees, the warp and weft would trade dance steps.<br /><br />The twill version feels much less crisp than the plainweave piece because it has a little more breathing room. I'm wondering how much difference there will be after wet finishing!<br /><br />Next up, a crepe version. Stay tuned.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/ltsSRStZ_lk" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com4http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/12/twill-it-is.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-25800309918460891382017-12-12T15:30:00.002-08:002017-12-12T15:30:46.730-08:00Decisions, DecisionsThe first piece on the blue wool warp is woven. It's just as sheer under the loom (on its way to the cloth storage beam) as it was in the last post:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-QfKg6zu74/WjBjXrUNfYI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/ZdsjDjQoPv8u0hq5yMllJgZ7MvDzADWowCLcBGAs/s1600/1stshawlunderloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="696" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-QfKg6zu74/WjBjXrUNfYI/AAAAAAAAK6Y/ZdsjDjQoPv8u0hq5yMllJgZ7MvDzADWowCLcBGAs/s320/1stshawlunderloom.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br />Now it's time to decide which weave to use on the next piece (there is enough warp for 4 total).<br /><br />One choice is a simple 4-end broken twill...:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VqkcVpAusyc/WjBjvN5diiI/AAAAAAAAK6c/TKUsKZONVxIO7p90gMaYUpqTkZKnoPUrACLcBGAs/s1600/brokentwill20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="729" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VqkcVpAusyc/WjBjvN5diiI/AAAAAAAAK6c/TKUsKZONVxIO7p90gMaYUpqTkZKnoPUrACLcBGAs/s200/brokentwill20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>&nbsp;...or a 10-shaft crepe, repeated on shafts 11-20:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrAIMOmI8js/WjBkCSiJtyI/AAAAAAAAK6k/pEPdPudFY6QiZeJ7NbKZyGz2qbeY4UTTQCLcBGAs/s1600/crepe20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="729" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrAIMOmI8js/WjBkCSiJtyI/AAAAAAAAK6k/pEPdPudFY6QiZeJ7NbKZyGz2qbeY4UTTQCLcBGAs/s200/crepe20.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />The twill has no floats longer than 2 ends; the crepe no longer than 3.<br /><br />In other news - the weather! We're over 100 miles from the fires in the Santa Barbara/Ventura area, but the smoke has drifted north on the wind several days, giving the air an eery yellow-orange tinge. The temperatures have been strange, too. Below freezing at night, then quite warm during the day. Today for example, we woke to a frosty 24(F) and expect the temperature to reach 78(F) during the afternoon. A 50-degree night-to-day swing is common during the summer, but not at this time of year.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/cPrfayIcyi4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com0http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/12/decisions-decisions.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-86599972968837612082017-12-06T18:51:00.000-08:002017-12-06T18:51:02.442-08:00Success!If you've been folowing the status of the current warp on the dobby loom, you may remember that my objectives were (1.) Use up stash; (2.) Weave several featherweight, sheer wool shawls, with a warp of randomly mixed, fine blue wool yarns and a weft of fine blue, wool + mylon boucle.<br /><br />Well, I think I nailed it! The warp is sett at 30 epi (3 per dent in a 10-dent reed. The warp yarns are almost all 32/2 or finer (there is one ~ 28/2). The target ppi is 16, which after a few loom adjustments was achieved.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-neAxvrERU/WiipIBqcLfI/AAAAAAAAK58/7aGzzruFMrofaomOPmyCcJlmiup_hIIdACLcBGAs/s1600/sheer-success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="800" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-neAxvrERU/WiipIBqcLfI/AAAAAAAAK58/7aGzzruFMrofaomOPmyCcJlmiup_hIIdACLcBGAs/s320/sheer-success.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not only are the tabs of the apron clearly visible through the woven cloth, but also the quite detailed shadow of the shuttle. Of course, the cloth will be a little more dense after wet finishing, but at this point I'm quite happy with it.<br /><br />The weave for this first of four shawls on the warp is plain weave; I may try a 2x2 twill or a crepe weave on one or more of the others. Because the threading is straight draw on 20 shafts, there are lots of possible choices from my well-thumbed copy of Oelsner that have no floats longer than 2 threads. The longer the floats, of course, the more distortion in the finished cloth because of the boucle weft, so I will try to limit the floats to 2 (or maybe 3) threads.<br /><br />My thanks to my friend Pat Stewart, whose experience with this fine boucle I used as a baseline for decisions about epi and ppi.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/CvuznME8__E" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com2http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/12/success.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-38345059531942129472017-12-01T10:17:00.001-08:002017-12-01T10:17:56.703-08:00Life Goes OnThere's been a flurry of non-weaving activity in the studio, to make 2 gifts for a sister and a sister-in-law.<br /><br />This zip bag will become host to a SIL's knitting tools. The original jacquard image is based on some lilypads at the lake in Montana (where, by coincidence, the SIL's parents live). I had to rotate the fabric 90 degrees from the original orientation to make a big-enough bag. Here are the front and back:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv-1SO4BTIo/WiDHEWBSgUI/AAAAAAAAK5I/CNtM9msedZw6r5OgqDV_EMEKadhSap55wCLcBGAs/s1600/ellen-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="800" height="229" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bv-1SO4BTIo/WiDHEWBSgUI/AAAAAAAAK5I/CNtM9msedZw6r5OgqDV_EMEKadhSap55wCLcBGAs/s320/ellen-front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LyXx4miZxjM/WiDHGRAfRtI/AAAAAAAAK5M/HgT3OnddtYcNQ2eHJIdv6F-M-5XYFIGVwCLcBGAs/s1600/ellen-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LyXx4miZxjM/WiDHGRAfRtI/AAAAAAAAK5M/HgT3OnddtYcNQ2eHJIdv6F-M-5XYFIGVwCLcBGAs/s320/ellen-back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />And for my sister, the iPhoneographer, a mobile phone pouch, shown front and back. One end of the strap is not yet sewn in place, so she can adjust the length as desired.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKmW-JoBc94/WiDHgfyfK0I/AAAAAAAAK5Q/IG_pHkkvGaAnfe2KGvVYqyvxbQCzFb5KwCLcBGAs/s1600/bl-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="800" height="243" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKmW-JoBc94/WiDHgfyfK0I/AAAAAAAAK5Q/IG_pHkkvGaAnfe2KGvVYqyvxbQCzFb5KwCLcBGAs/s320/bl-front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNuwBfIyoQk/WiDHiVQpNcI/AAAAAAAAK5U/929xTCNQEWgI6C-u1AL1SIpq-Os_25VtgCLcBGAs/s1600/bl-back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="800" height="245" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNuwBfIyoQk/WiDHiVQpNcI/AAAAAAAAK5U/929xTCNQEWgI6C-u1AL1SIpq-Os_25VtgCLcBGAs/s320/bl-back.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/ycB1xHbxSpI" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com3http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/12/life-goes-on.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-80428401540775298702017-11-30T19:02:00.000-08:002017-11-30T19:02:03.781-08:00Rest in PeaceThat is my sincere wish for my father-in-law, who has wanted nothing for the past several years but to join his dear departed wife in heaven. Now he has his wish, and the clan will pay our respects and celebrate his generous spirit on Saturday, 12/2, in the area of Los Angeles where he had lived for 60+ years.<br /><br />This photo was taken about 18 months ago, when DH and Paul took a cruise from Amsterdam to Norway's north cape and back. Norway is the country of origin for the paternal line of the clan; there are still relatives in and around&nbsp; Drammen, not far from Oslo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dF-xZRJJOV4/WiDFT500HzI/AAAAAAAAK48/Roj6J1zEThgSOUlpnLc5rbqgJFh6W0P-QCLcBGAs/s1600/PaulRude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dF-xZRJJOV4/WiDFT500HzI/AAAAAAAAK48/Roj6J1zEThgSOUlpnLc5rbqgJFh6W0P-QCLcBGAs/s320/PaulRude.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/vap6YDU5Aj4" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com3http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/11/rest-in-peace.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-14825167523726426832017-11-28T18:57:00.000-08:002017-11-28T18:57:00.007-08:00Ready to Weave!The mixed fine wool warp is now threaded, sleyed, and lashed onto the cloth apron. All ready to start weaving...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--AvY_vAqMHA/Wh4elxXOr3I/AAAAAAAAK2c/881-9XeMjWQYdfNY1aXP8zpvV3lwbzuyQCLcBGAs/s1600/ready2weave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1000" height="221" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--AvY_vAqMHA/Wh4elxXOr3I/AAAAAAAAK2c/881-9XeMjWQYdfNY1aXP8zpvV3lwbzuyQCLcBGAs/s320/ready2weave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br />Ready, that is, if it weren't for a flurry of orders for zip bags (birthday gift for a sister-in-law who is a knitter, and wants a knitting tool bag) and mobile phone pouches (Christmas gift for my sister who is a serious iPhoneographer, and wants her iPhone to be quickly reachable at all times in case a photographic opportunity presents itself).<br /><br />In addition to the fiber-related distractions, we have a trip to Los Angeles area coming up. My wonderful father-in-law passed away a few weeks ago, and events associated with his passing, plus Thanksgiving at one of DH's brothers' homes, have already necessitated a couple of trips south. On Saturday, the official religious service and a celebration of life will be held in San Pedro, and that's another 3 days away from the studio. However, he was the best in-law anybody could hope for, almost the father I never had, so the time away is not regretted in any way.<br /><br />Tomorrow I will post my favorite photo of my father-in-law, taken last year by DH when the two of them went on a cruise of coastal Norway. And photos of the gifts I've been working on. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/YV1UvRUK-BQ" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/11/ready-to-weave.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-9898779267275263082017-11-18T20:40:00.003-08:002017-11-18T20:40:51.319-08:00Threading; Sales BlogI've completed threading the blue wool warp; and begun sleying the reed. Sorry, no photos. Once the sleying is done, and the warp tied onto the apron, I'll post some pics.<br /><br />In other news, I have started to post a few items on the <a href="https://sandrarudesales.blogspot.com/">sales blog</a>. More will appear tomorrow.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/x2wfMR-j50M" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com0http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/11/threading-sales-blog.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-40307232593495151872017-11-12T18:49:00.001-08:002017-11-12T18:49:10.628-08:00Threading - Halfway ThereAs of dinnertime today, this was my progress threading the mixed blue wool warp: 12 of 22 sections, each 30 threads. Not progress to boast about, but wool is much stickier than silk or tencel, and loves to cling to its neighbors just when I want them to separate.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qGRXtYN3OAk/WgkHXnX9OvI/AAAAAAAAKwo/vaCHALFJtUkJIC8ME8QaOsH7yhKJOp31ACLcBGAs/s1600/threading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="800" height="258" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qGRXtYN3OAk/WgkHXnX9OvI/AAAAAAAAKwo/vaCHALFJtUkJIC8ME8QaOsH7yhKJOp31ACLcBGAs/s320/threading.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thirty epi over 20 shafts; not a big challenge compared to some of the really complex threadings I've tackled. I was hoping to finish in another few days, but we will have visitors, so completion may not come as soon as I wished.<br /><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/Qn8O37VPRgA" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/11/threading-halfway-there.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-56339168694185161502017-11-11T10:40:00.000-08:002017-11-11T10:40:19.049-08:00Up Next on the Dobby LoomThe stash closet contains lots of bins of fine wool in various color ranges. I also found a cone of fine wool + nylon boucle (once upon a time, available from Textura Trading under the name of Mousse.)<br /><br />I chose all the cones of blue, various shades from medium to navy, and subdivided them into 18 separate cones. As I wound a warp for wraps, for each section I picked at random 2 groups of 3 cones. Some sections are darker (more navy) some are lighter (no navy), but I hope the colors will blend well in the cloth. The yarns are mostly in the 34/2 range, so well over 9000 yards per pound. The sett will be 30 epi, and with the boucle as weft, should make an open, somewhat sheer cloth.<br /><br />Here in California, wool is a hard sell. The weather is "too warm," even though we have a hard freeze almost every winter... So to sell a wool shawl means weaving a featherweight cloth.<br /><br />At the point I took the photo, I still had 2 sections to beam, so that's why the section guides are still in place.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lAgx9HEnJJE/WgZlsvubCTI/AAAAAAAAKwM/BNE_ab-YvTo7kQNokzdQ7Wqc8ztQgLVfQCLcBGAs/s1600/warping-blue-wool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="800" height="268" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lAgx9HEnJJE/WgZlsvubCTI/AAAAAAAAKwM/BNE_ab-YvTo7kQNokzdQ7Wqc8ztQgLVfQCLcBGAs/s320/warping-blue-wool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />In other news, over the next few days, I'll be posting items on <a href="http://sandrarudesales.blogspot.com/">my sales blog </a>that didn't sell at the Central Coast Weavers event. <img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/Zi-a845SYpE" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com1http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/11/up-next-on-dobby-loom.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35771337.post-9851670267706847092017-11-03T11:14:00.002-07:002017-11-03T11:14:45.213-07:00Central Coast Weavers Annual Sale This WeekendI'll be there; will you?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8xY7X9zDUw/WfyyAm66uoI/AAAAAAAAKvw/ZrnmR8cSlegjGtfP3GE_QMnycFXdY34HgCLcBGAs/s1600/poster2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="562" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K8xY7X9zDUw/WfyyAm66uoI/AAAAAAAAKvw/ZrnmR8cSlegjGtfP3GE_QMnycFXdY34HgCLcBGAs/s320/poster2.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/SandrasLoomBlog/~4/a-g6myurILw" height="1" width="1" alt=""/>Sandra Rudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04691078578557110217noreply@blogger.com0http://sandrarude.blogspot.com/2017/11/central-coast-weavers-annual-sale-this.html